Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor

The University of Hawai'i at Manoa (UH Manoa) College of Engineering invites applications for a new tenure-track engineering faculty position as part of a Ground-Based Astronomy Instrumentation Engineering Support Center launched this year in collaboration with the Institute for Astronomy (IfA). The Center is part of a broader Space Science and Engineering initiative at UH Manoa that recognizes Hawai'i's unique geography, cultural positioning, and leadership in the growing fields of ground-based astronomy, space flight, and exploration, and seeks to broaden the university's capabilities in these fields.

Center faculty members provide operational and research expertise to directly support ground-based observatory needs. The general fund, full-time, tenure track position is based in Hilo at the IfA facilities on the UH Hilo (UHH) campus and is expected to begin January 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. It is part of an initial faculty cohort forming the core of a multidisciplinary, multi-island engineering team. Given the role within a highly collaborative team environment and the expectation of a minimum 50% research assignment, it is an 11-month position at the UH Manoa faculty rank of Assistant Professor (F3).

The position will contribute to engineering research, teaching, and service relevant to the Center. This initial cohort provides direct support of ground-based activities for observatory operations, including—but not limited to—detectors, high-speed electronics, cryogenic and thermal management systems, optics, adaptive optics and photonics, prototyping, materials and manufacturing, instrumentation and control systems, and systems engineering. This position will have teaching responsibilities relevant to their area of expertise and the courses that comprise the pre-engineering degree pathway at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo.

Applicants are sought with engineering expertise specifically as it pertains to ground-based astronomy instrumentation design, development, construction, and testing, including but not limited to detector design, testing, and integration, high-speed electronics, thermal management, and embedded control systems hardware.

This significant, large-scale initiative places an emphasis on a collaborative approach to both research and education, focusing on hands-on learning, teamwork, complementary technical expertise, and system-level multidisciplinary thinking. It will serve to expand Hawai'i's local high-tech workforce by utilizing and leveraging existing observatory facilities on Mauna Kea and Haleakala as platforms for new instrumentation and technology development, facility innovation, and proving grounds for operational upgrades and advancement. The cohort is a dedicated engineering team to develop technical proposals, write grant applications, and perform engineering design tasks both at UH Manoa facilities as well as the Center home on the UHH campus. Additionally, the faculty cohort will develop and deliver courses of importance in relevant disciplines to UH Manoa and/or UHH. Center faculty have access to well-equipped laboratories and machine shop facilities.

Progress and achievement of each faculty member will be measured not only by their individual accomplishments, but also by their contributions to the success of the overall team and of the Engineering Center, as well.

The University of Hawai'i is a Carnegie R1 doctoral university with a strong emphasis on research and graduate education. The electrical & computer engineering and the mechanical engineering departments both offer B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees, and their undergraduate programs are accredited by ABET ( For more information on the College of Engineering, including program-specific enrollment, please visit our website at

The University of Hawai'i at Manoa campus is dedicated to becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning, a place that is responsive to Native Hawaiians and reflective of Indigenous Hawai'i where all can learn, grow, connect, and heal ( UH Manoa is also designated as a Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Center.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work productively and collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team as well as serve as lead for projects/task items under their respective specialization or as assigned by the Program Lead, Dean of the College of Engineering and/or the Institute for Astronomy Director.
• Develop an externally-funded research program in direct support of the Engineering Center, in collaboration with other Center faculty. The candidate will also have scope to develop their own independent research portfolio.
• Conduct and publish research work in leading scholarly journals as a record of scholarly activity.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in mechanical, electrical, or computer engineering in person and/or via various distance delivery modes as required.
• Serve as chair or member of committees in charge of candidates for advanced degrees.
• Participate in curriculum-related activities, including the development of curricular materials and special instructional methods.
• Supervise independent study activities.
• Serve as academic advisor and/or mentor to undergraduate and graduate students, and may supervise research assistants and postdoctoral fellows, as required.
• Serve on departmental, college, and university committees.
• Render service to the professional or lay community in areas relevant to the individual's academic specialty.
• Engage with and support student internship programs offered by various organizations, including the Akamai internship programs administered by UC Observatories in collaboration with UH Hilo and the UH Institute for Astronomy.
• Support the recruitment, retention, and graduation of students in Engineering.
• Participate in implementing position-relevant elements of the UH Manoa Strategic Plan.
• Perform related tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications for Assistant Professor:

• An earned Ph.D. ("All but dissertation" will be considered) in mechanical, electrical or systems engineering, or a closely-related field, from a university of recognized standing. Degree must be conferred prior to appointment start date.
• Demonstrated experience in the design, development and testing of instrumentation relevant to ground based astronomy needs.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and organize assigned activities, including the work of assistants when appropriate.
• Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, and administrators.
• Professionalism in meeting and conferring with others.

• Demonstrated experience to work with a multi-disciplinary team and lead assigned tasks.
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills and ability to engage successfully in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment.
• Demonstrated scholarly achievement, evidenced by a track record of conducting research and publishing scholarly materials, commensurate with the academic rank of Assistant Professor.
• Ability to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the area of engineering specialty, including courses which comprise a traditional pre-engineering curriculum, and a strong commitment to mentoring at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Desirable Qualifications for Assistant Professor:

• Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following: construction and/or testing and validation of complex mechanical actuator systems; additive and subtractive hybrid machining; thermal systems hardware; FPGAs, GPUs and integration with instrumentation, signal processing, electronics design.
• Demonstrated experience with design, specification, installation and maintenance of large systems relevant to ground-based astronomy.
• Demonstrated expertise in systems engineering, including research and development of systems engineering methods and execution in the areas of technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, cost and risk, as well as supportability and effectiveness analyses for total systems. Analyses and research are performed at all levels of total system product to includes: concept, design, fabrication, test, installation, operation, maintenance and disposal.

To Apply:

Applications must be made online at Neogov. While candidates who complete their applications by July 28, 2025, will receive priority consideration, the review process will continue until the position is filled. Applications will continue to be accepted, but those received after the priority date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled. Click on the "Apply" button on the top right corner of the screen to complete an application and attach the required documents to the online application. The applicants should submit:

• A cover letter specifying the position specialization including a general statement of how their research interest aligns with the purpose of the faculty cohort and the new Engineering Support Center;
• A curriculum vitae detailing research accomplishments and teaching/mentoring experience;
• A combined teaching and research statement outlining interests and future goals; and
• The names, addresses, e-mails, and telephone numbers of up to 4 references. Please do not upload or ask references to forward letters; they will be requested when required.

Applicants are advised that their cover letter and/or curriculum vitae should explicitly address each of the position minimum qualifications, as well as any desirable qualifications they possess.